An 88-year-old woman suffered a "brutal and sustained assault" in her bed, police said.
A man has been arrested for the attack at her home in Chorley, Lancashire, which Det Insp Warren Atkinson, of Lancashire Police said “simply beggars belief”.
The pensioner was asleep in bed when she was woken in the early hours of Saturday morning by a man assaulting her and demanding money.
The attacker pulled her from the bed and the assault continued. He also ransacked the house before making his escape.
The elderly woman had to crawl to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm.
Paramedics took her to Wigan Hospital where she is being treated for her injuries. They are not believed to be life-threatening.
A 35-year-old man from Chorley was arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, police said.
Detective Inspector Warren Atkinson of Lancashire Police said: "This was a brutal and sustained assault on an elderly lady in her own home. The level of gratuitous violence used on this vulnerable woman simply beggars belief and it is a miracle she was not more seriously injured."
He added: "I would like to thank the public for their incredible response to our appeal for information following this incident. As a result of their help and through police inquiries we now have a man in custody and he will be questioned in due course."
